PUPILS in Wear Valley have been chosen to take part in an innovative pilot scheme aimed at improving co-ordination skills.

Every primary, secondary and special school in the local authority district will be given a range of specialist sporting equipment that is used by top football clubs to help with fitness training.

It is a scheme that is costing thousands of pounds and funded by the Durham Dales Primary Care Trust, which has also teamed up with The Northern Echo, Wear Valley District Council and Northumbria Water in the Chance to Live Campaign to promote healthy lifestyles.

The new scheme is being run by a partnership that involves the primary care trust, Durham County Council and Wear Valley Sport Action Zone, and is part of the Lifelong Exercise Activity Programme (Leap).

Alan Duff, the local educaiton authority partnership development manager for Durham County Council, said: "This initiative will provide in-service training for teachers and innovative equipment for use by every pupil in the 47 schools.

"We hope that over the course of the pilot we see a noticeable improvement in skill and health-related fitness among the young people in Wear Valley."

The equipment will help improve fundamental co-ordination, movement and athletic skills including running, jumping, balance and hand-eye co-ordination.

Speed, Agility and Quickness (SAQ) equipment has already been used successfully by many Premiership football clubs and the England Rugby Union squad.

It will see children put through their paces using small plastic hurdles, roll-out ladders and balance discs.

It will be used in PE lessons and extra-curricular activities. One teacher from each school has received training in how to deliver lessons using the equipment.

Mr Duff and colleagues from the county council will visit each school to help take the training forward.

Mr Duff said: "We had a trainer come up from Loughbrough last Friday and one teacher from each school was trained how to use the equipment and that was then taken back to the school.

"This is something that will help all youngsters of all abilities progress with their balance and co-ordination."